/á-rò koo-má/

Aro Kuma is the evolution of British-Nigerian artist, guitarist, and producer formerly known as Zero-B1, a transformation shaped by growth, awareness, and a deepening sense of creative presence.

Emerging from London’s independent scene, Zero-B1 carved out a sound rooted in curiosity and cultural rhythm blending lo-fi textures, live guitar loops, and poetic introspection. His 2021debut single, Oceans (ft. Syauqi Destanika) and subsequent singles, You Don’t Know, and Wetin I Do revealed an early amalgamation of influences from soul, R&B, and hip-hop to African pop, highlife, jazz, and jazz fusion. That blend gave his early work both groove and grace: melodies carried by rhythm, and rhythm guided by reflection. You can hear traces of rap and spoken word, the meeting point between lyrical storytelling and meditative flow. A voice searching for understanding through form and feel.

This balance between introspective soul and Afro-jazz experimentation defined his early path. Tracks such as Long Time Ago and Who Gave the Order? explored Afrocentric protest grooves, while the reflective EP Hi-Lofi Chronicles Vol. 1 (2022) produced Everything Bliss, which surpassed 100,000 Spotify streams. His debut album Zero Experience a self-produced blend of Afrobeat, highlife, hip-hop, and jazz earned praise from Bandcamp Navigator for its emotional depth and sense of purpose.

In the years that followed, Zero-B1’s music grew increasingly meditative and rooted in identity, leading to The Early Work Demos (2023), a retrospective collection marking the closing of one creative chapter and the birth of another.